Nut-lock.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC ALONZO POPE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,813, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed January 30, 1899. Serial No. 703,948. (No model.)

of the United States, residing at Cincinnati,

in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in nut-locks, and has for its object to provide a device of this character of a simple and inexpensive construction which shall be adapted for use in looking nuts of ordinary construction, no change of form or structure being required in either the nut or the bolt.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of the improved nut-lock, whereby certain im portant advantages are attained and the device is made simpler, cheaper, and is otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined'in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a fragment of a rail-joint having nuts provided with my improved looking device and also showinga tool adapted for use in looking the nuts. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the form of the locking-strip detached. Fig. 3 is an enlarged face View showing the locking-plate detached, and Fig. 4 is an edge view of the same part. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of the locking-plate. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a feature of construction of the tool employed for locking the nuts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the railway-rail, and 2 indicates the fish-plate overlapping the rail-joint and formed in the usual manner, with a lower angular flange 3 to overlie the rail-flange.

4 l indicate the bolts passed through the rail 1 and fish-plate 2, and 5 5 indicate the 10, having by preference beveled sides adaptstraight or flattened lower edge 7, adapted by engagement with the flange 3 of the fish-plate to hold the locking-plate from the turning movement, which movement would tend to unscrew and loosen the nut 5, locked by my improved device. The locking-plate is of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, being of a rectangular shape and bent or curved with re spect to its length, so as to permit its lateral edge portions or wings 8, which by preference are made to extend slightly outside the nut 5, to bear against the surface of the fish-plate 2, while the central apertured portion of said locking-plate is held out of contact with said surface.

The upper edge of the locking-plate 6 is formed with a rounded projecting portion 9, through which is cut an open notch or recess ed to readily receivea tongue orlug 11, formed on the locking-strip 12, the construction of which is clearly shown in Fig. 2. As shown in said figure, the locking-strip 12 is formed of an elongated piece or strip of metal of suitable dimensions and strength, bent at its central part to permit it to be fitted snugly over the top angled surface of the nut 5 when the same is screwed on the bolt 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.' The extremities 13 of said strip are, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, bent parallel to each other and at angles to said central portion of the strip, so as to permit them to fit against the opposite side surfaces of the nut 5, and said extremities are of a length adapted to extend somewhat below the parallel opposite sides of the nut, as indicated in dotted lines at so in Fig. 1, so as to be capable of being bent under the lower surface of the nut 5, as indicated at 14 in said figure, to hold the locking-strip securely in place on the nut. The lug or tongue 11 is integrally formed on the strip 12, being made to project from the central angular part of the nut and fish-plate 2.

ing-plate.

In applying the nut-lock the plate 6 is first slipped over the bolt with its fiat or straight edge 7 adjacent to the fish-plate flange 3 and its concave surface against the side of the fish-plate, after which the nut 5 is applied 1 and screwed home on the bolt 4, care being taken to turn the nut so that its upper angle shall substantially correspond in position with the open notch or recess 10 on the look- This latter turning or adjustment is much facilitated when the locking-plate 6 is formed of elastic or spring material, since its elasticity permits of pressing it more or less forcibly against the fish-plate by turning the nut 5 to bring the upper angle thereof into alinement with the notch or recess 10. The locking-strip 12 is then applied over the nut 5, its extremities 13 extending down below the opposite vertical side surfaces of the nut, as indicated atw in Fig. 1, and its tongue or lug 11 depending behind the rear side of the nut in engagement with the notch or recess 10 of the locking-plate 6. The projecting ends 13 of the strip are then bent or pressed inward against the under side of the nut 5, as shown at 14 in the drawings, so as to securely hold the strip 12 against being lifted out of engagement with the nut, the depending lug or tongue 11 at the same time by engaging behind the nut preventing said strip from being slipped off of the nut and also by engagement with the notch or recess 10 of plate 6 (which plate is held against turning by engagement of its lower edge 7 with the fish-plate flange 3) serving to lock the nut securely against turning or unscrewing movement.

In case the improved nut-lock is made for use on other than rail-joints it may be desirable to employ the construction shown in Fig. 5,.whereiu the locking-plate 6 is provided on its surface with a series of lugs or projections 15, designed by engagement with the adjacent surface (which may be of wood or metal) to hold the plate against turning movement when in place, and, ifdesired, in lieu of a single notch 10 the plate 6 may, as shown in said figure, be constructed with a plurality of notches or recesses for-engagement with the lug or tongue of the locking-strip, as indicated at 10.

In connection with my improved nut-lock I prefer to use the tool shown in Fig. 1, said tool being in the nature of a pair of tongs 16, hinged or pivoted in a well-known way and having jaws 17 formed to fit the outside of the nut 5 to be locked, the ends of the jaws 17 having parts 18 projecting toward each other to engage the depending extremities 13 either nut 01' bolt. i from the above description that the device is capable of some modification without material departure from, the principles and spirit of i the invention, and for this reason I do not deof. the locking-strip 12 and. press or bend said extremities up and inward against the under side of the nut, as shown at 14 in Fig. 1. One of the handles of the tool 16 will also, by preference, be formed with a beveled or pointed end 19,. as shown in the fragmentary detail view Fig; 6, to be used in prying the bent extremities 14 away from the under side of the nut 5 in case itshould be desired for any reason to remove the locking-strip 12 from the nut.

From the above description it will be seen that the improved nut-lock is of an extremely simple and inexpensive nature and is especially well adapted for use, since it is capable of application to nuts of the hind commonly used and requires no change whatever in It will also be obvious sire to be understood as limiting in yselt' to the precise form and arrangement of the several 1 parts herein set forth. For example, in some cases it may be desirable to construct the nutlock for use in connection with square rather than hexagonal nuts, and it will beclear that such a change is comprehended by the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I

. claim-- 1. In a nut-lock, the combination of a bolt and nut, an open recessed locking-plate held on the bolt and adapted for engagement with a part held by the bolt to hold the plate'against turning movement and a locking-strip having a tongue to engage the open recess of the locking-plate, said strip being formed to fit over the upper side of the nut and having its extremities arranged to project beyond the opposite sides of the nut in position to be bent inwardly toward each other against the u nder side of the nut, substantially as set forth.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination of a bolt and nut, an open recessed locking-plate held on the bolt and adapted for engagementwith a part held by the-bolt,to hold the plate against turning movement, and a locking-strip bent 1 at its central part to fit the upper side of the nut and having at said bent central part an integral depending tongue to engage the openrecess in the locking-plate, the extremities of the strip being arranged to extend along ;the opposite sides of the nut below the same in position to be bent inwardly toward each other against the underside of the nut, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of witnesses.

.E. J. TIMMoNs,

Jorrn E. Jonas. 

